The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-03-23
FOR OUR NEW NAVY.
BIDS ron AhMon AND GUN srEEL.
u" Hs''''sh~m Iron Works Seem to Stand
me Hest Chaucs OF Ge.,iug tho Award,
Tho fresidsnrs ticatth Said to b,
Efctttent -wastItugtou News,

WAspISoToN, j. o., March eth,
opening ot the b!da Tor the gun steel and
armour plate, at tho Navy Department
this morning, developed tho fact tina,
none OF the Pittsburgh firma cared to ente,
the competition, and that the bethlehem
works with European assistance, had
been making arrangements for lust such
government contracts for over q year.
The figures presented by the various
bidders were as follows:
Cambria Iron Works--For gun steel,
about 1900 tons, 5i,5i3 90.
Midvale Iron Works-For gun s.eol,
sl,397,24O.
Bethlehem Works--Gun steel, soos,.
239 10; srmor plate, about 600 tons,
s3.6l0,7O7 so.
Cleveland Rolling Mill Company-Ar.
NOR plate, A, ,0el 800.
The most interesting communication
was from the Bethlehem Iron Works,
which added to each bid the statement
that they should claim the consideration
promised in the advertisement TO firms
bidding on both tho gun steel and the ar.
NOR plates. They also submitted = letter
giving a statement Of the preparations
they had made for the work aud eayins,
among other things, that the Bethlehem
Iron Company has been most diligently
engaged Tor more than ayear in construct.
ing complete plant Of forging machinery
and tools adapted to the fabrication Of sll
the parts OF the largest guns used In any
part Of the world and Of the shafts that
may be required for vessels OF any sizs
that the United States Government may
require, aud in esecting the necessary
buildings In which to DO this work. The
establishment when completed will be IN
every respect abla to compete with any
establishment in Europe.
Secahd-It has contracted with one OF
the largest and most successful concerns
in Europe engaged in making steel arnor
plate icr the necessary aid, superintend.
enee, use OF patents, and guarantee Of its
work, and has arranged lor hammer OF
the largest class, II that be necessary, for
the successful prosecution and completion
Of the work required by the Government.
Ihird-The compauy has up to this
time, expended in cash on the forging
plant alone, between S3010D and SiG0,-
000, and is under contract obligations 10
the extent OF $500, 900 additiona! ior ina.
chirery and tools to be delivered within
the current year. The amoun. required
to complete its plants for both guns and
armor plate will be in all about 81, 500, 900,
and for this the financial arraugements
are completed.
Fourth-The company has now in oper.
alton seven blast furnaces, it owns or con.
trolls large deposits OF ore peculiarly culta.
bic 10Y such iron as is required 10, steel
foreings, so taa. IL III certain OF Obtaining
the oett aud most uniform quality OF met.
al without being subject to the difficulty
and uncertainty OF purchasing in the mar
ket suitable material.
Fltth-ln addition 10 whati is bein: done
in the way Of Gpecisl preparation Tor this
heavy class Of woes, the Bs.hlshem Com
pany now has in uee In connection With
its presen. work large machine shop
thoroughly equipped with the largest and
most effective tools in the country, a toun'
dry, smith chop and other necessary ad.
vantsyes, and IL nov turning out about
4, 500 tons OF steel week.
S-crets.y Whitney WA very much graf.
i6ed ut the preparation for duing the work
and expressed his satisfaction very freely
The award will be made within fifteen
Gays,